Automatic arc welding apparatus



Nov. 21, 1950 w. E. WILSON 2,531,181

AUTOMATIC ARC WELDING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 2; 1948 63 fL- M 0 v Inventor Wa ne flwilson,

5 v7 l-ha Attorne Nov. 21, 1950 Filed Dec. 2, 1948 w. E. WILSON AUTOMATIC ARC WELDING APPARATUS v8 Sheets-Sheet His Abtor'ne s Nov. 21, 1950 w. E. WILSON 2,531,131

AUTOMATIC ARC WELDING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 In vent or:

wa yne E.\/\/i lSon,

7 His Attorn e y Npv.21,1950- w. E. WILSON I 2,531,181

AUTOMATIC ARC WELDING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2, 1948 a Sheets-Sheet e FEQZO.

" fii M M7 Pu h H7 HZ #2 W i M4 Inventor". \A/agne E.\/\/i|$o'n, by Wm??? H is Attorney.

Nov. 21, 1950 w. E. WILSON 2,531,181

AUTOMATIC ARC WELDING APPARATUS 7 Filed Dec. 2, 1948 v 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Fig-25a mimmlfim ELECTROOE SWITCH Ed ECTOR LIMIT SWITCH E5 i IP24! 237 I Z L249 (Z10 I zzz 5 POS'TION WELD SE LECTOR SW ITCHES L1 NIT SWITCHES RIGHT I LEFT HAND AUTO.

I 2191 30:! T L5 Inventor";

' Wayne E.Wilson, 3/;

His Attorney.

Nov. 21, 1950 w. E. WILSON AUTOMATIC ARC WELDING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2, 1948 4 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Pi .2310. val l tssm 2 X SUPPLY z/l z /a I k Inventor": Wayne E.Wilson,

" l5 Attorney- Patented Nov. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE AUTOMATIC ARC WELDING APPARATUS Wayne E. Wilson, Fitchburg, Mass, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application December 2, 1948, Serial No. 63,041

My invention relates to automatic arc welding apparatus for supplying to the electrode feeding means thereof a succession of unit length electrodes each of which in turn is welded in end to end engagement with the unconsumed residue of unit length electrodes previously sup plied to said feeding means and still subject to its feeding action so that a continuous unbroken 19 Claims. 01. 314-) the resulting electrode length of electrode material may be supplied as needed to maintain an uninterrupted welding are for as long as desired.

Continuous arc welding operations have heretofore been performed by using mechanisms which feed electrode material from a reel conare characterized principally by the flux coating employed thereon to facilitate welding and the deposit of weld metal of the desired quality. These coatings of flux are of different kinds and thickness for different types of electrode material and different types of welding. When the coatings of flux do not adhere firmly to the electrode material and when these coatings are of substantial thickness, it becomes diflicult to coil and uncoil the electrode material without V damaging these flux coatings. This is true even though special arrangements are employed for holding the fluxes on the electrode material. In order to avoid these limitations as to maximum diameter and type of electrode materiaLit has been proposed to employ mechanisms which feed in succession unit length electrodes which are straight and are joined in end to end engagement to form a continuous electrode column which is supplied by the electrode feeding mechanism to the welding arc in accordance with its end engagement with the electrode column the feeding means. a

of a mechanical joint between their ends but it is preferable to form suchjoint by welding in order to eliminate high resistance sections in column which would adversely affect the automatic control used in feeding it.

It is an object of my invention to provide an automatic arc welding apparatus of improved construction for feeding in succession unit length electrodes which are joined in end to end engagement by means ofan arc welding operation to form an electrode column which is supplied to the are by anautomatic feeding mechanism forming part of the apparatus.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a magazine in which unit length electrodes are stored and from which theyare fed one at a time by an ejector mechanism into end to in It is also an object of my invention to provide a cylindrical magazine having radially disposed cells which are adjustable for accommodating electrodes of different sizes.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an ejector mechanism which rotates the magazine to position a different one of its cells in electrode ejecting position and thereafter eject the foremost electrode in said cell in end to end engagement with the trailing end of the electrode column in the feeding means. I

It is also an object of my invention to provide means for feeding the ejector from and to a retracted position and for imposing a dwell or rest period in the travelthereof at the time. the unit length electrode ejected from the magazine comes into end to end engagement with the electrode column in the feeding means.

It is also an object of my invention to provide on the ejector mechanism means for supplying welding current to the unit length electrode engaged thereby and for withdrawing this electrode from the electrode column which is also supplied with arc welding current in order to strike a welding are between the leading. end of the unit length electrode and the trailing end of the electrode column and thereafter to force these ends into reengagement after the arc welding current has flowed therebetween for a predetermined interval of time in order to forman are welded union between these ends.

, It. is also a further object of my invention to provide a frame on which the above referred to co-acting parts are supported in operative relaytionship to one another and in which. means are provided for aligning the contacting ends of the unit length electrode and the electrode column at the time these ends are united by the arc welding operation.

It is also an object of my invention to provide an adjustable oscillator mechanism having a construction and organization of parts which accommodate the structural features of an arc welding head of the above described type.

Further objects of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings, Figs. 1 and2 are front and side views of my apparatus. These views have been simplified by omitting certain details of.

structure which are completely illustrated in other figures of the drawings. Fig. 3' is a view partly in section which illustrates the electrode magazine, the frame on which it is supported, the

electrode aligner in this frame, the ejector by means of which electrodes are supplied from the magazine to the aligner, and the driving connection between the ejector and the shaft by which it is propelled to and from its retracted position illustrated. Fig. 4 is a partial top view of the magazine of Fig. 3 illustrating the electrode cells therein, Fig. 5 is a sectional view along lines 5'-5 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a front view of the ejector of Fig. 3 with lower portions thereof broken away. Fig. '7 is a sectional View along the lines 'l-'! of Fig. 3, and Fig. 8 is a sectional view' along lines 8-8 of Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a view along lines 99 of Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 is a sectional view along lines Ill-At! of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a detailed illustration of the upper end of the ejector illustrating the electrode engaging contact, its biasing means, the electrode tongs, and the electromagnet for operating these'tongs to move a unit length electrode against the biasof'the electrode engaging contact. Fig. 12 is a sectional View along the lines l'2 l2 of Fig. 11, and Fig. 13' is a sectional view along lines I'3'-l3 of Fig. 11. Fig. 14 is a side view and Fig. 15 is a. sectional view along lines l5-l5 of Fig. 14 illustrating the means for propelling the ejector and the slip clutch and lost motion, connection between the driving and driven members thereof. Figs. 16 and 1'7 are plan views of a portion of the magazine illustrating the adjustments provided between the fixed and movable side walls of the electrode cells for accommodating electrodes of different sizes. Figs. 18 and 19 are detailed views taken at right angles to one another and illustrating the structure of the electrode limit switch who'se'operating member is in the path of travel of, electrodes ejected from the magazine.

Figs. 20, 21, and 22 are detailed views of the aligner p reviously mentioned, Fig. 20 being a side view thereof, Fig. 21, a secti'cnal view along lines 2I-2I of Fig. 20, and Fig. 22, atop view thereof. Figs. 23a and 23b diagrammatically illustrate the magazine control circuits, aluxiliary power control circuits, and,

the'other cells ofthe magazine circumferentially around the inside surface of the inner wall of the magazine. The electrodes are fed from the magazine by an ejector which is slidably mounted on a support which extends through the central opening in the annular magazine. Upon movement from its retracted position this ejector first rotates the magazine to position a different one of the cells in electrode ejecting position and thereafter engages, through a spring: biased contact thereon, the foremost electrode of the cell which has been moved to electrode ejecting position. Thereafter, the ejector moves this unit length electrode past the operating member of a trigger switch and into an aligner to make engagement with the trailing end of the electrode column in the feeding mechanism when this trailing end is within an arcing chamber forming part of the aligner. Upon engagement of the unit length electrode with the electrode column, the driving motor for the ejector is reversed but the ejector does not reverse immediately due to the' trode column to strike an are between their ends,

and after apredetermined time interval, the flow of arc welding current is interrupted, the electromagnet is deenergized to release the tongs, and

the bias imparted to the unit length electrode by theejector contact again forces it into engagement with the electrode column to form a weld. In addition to thelimit switch above referred to, there are two other limit switches actuated by the ejector. These limit switches form part of the 'magazine control circuit. Other features of the structure involved and the control for operating it will now be described in greater detail.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, apparatus embodying my invention comprises an annular or hollowcylindrical magazine I in which unit length electrodes are stored side by side and on end in eighteencells radially disposed between the inner and outer side walls of the magazine, the arrangement being shown more in detail in Figs. 3, 4, and.

'7. These unit length electrodes are fed one at a.

time from the magazine by means of an ejector mechanism 2 into engagement with an electrode column formed by welding these unit length electrodes in end to endengagement. The feeding means for this electrode columnis shown at 3 and may have the construction illustrated and claimed in US. Letters Patent2,272,l58-, J asper'E. Ander son, granted February 3,1942, andassigned to-the 7 assi'gnee of this invention.

The magazine ejectormechanism 2, and electrode feeding means 3,. are all supported -on a frame {which will hereinafter'be referred to as an adapter because of its function correlating the several parts of: m apparatus in operative relationship to one another; pivotally supported for partial rotation about a shaft journaledin the armsfi of a bracket fi'which is mounted" on a travel'carriage l by which the apparatus is traversed along the desired lineof welding. The bracket 6' comprises, a hollow hearria e and a face plate lG' which engages the front. side of the travel carriage f.

This adapter 4" is a V The face plate H3 is provided with: radial slots through which the bolts of attachment extend intothe frame of the travel carriage l, the arrangement being such that the bracket may be adjusted about the axis of rotation formed. by the journal between bearing block 8 and support shaft 9. Support shaft 9 and face plate [El are electrically insulated from the frame of the travel carriage I by sheets of insulating material I I and [2.

The travel carriage l is provided with rollers which engage and move along a track formed by the parallel bars l3 which are attached by brackets I4 to a suitable support. A travel motor mounted on the travel carriage propels it lengthwise of the track l3.

Oscillatory movement is imparted to the adapter 5 through the agency of motor i5 mounted on a plate l6 attached to the face plate IQ of bracket 5. This motor, through a built-in gear reduction l'i, rotates a crank shaft it and an adjustable crank l9 mounted thereon to impart oscillatory movement to the frame 4 through a lever mechanism also shown in Figs. '2, 8, 9, and

10. This lever mechanism will be further described below.

ihe automatic arc welding apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is adapted for feeding flux coated electrode material and a cutter mechanism 29 has been shown for cutting, lengthwise of the electrode column, a slot which bares the electrode core for supplying current thereto through a contact mechanism 2E. The cutter mechanism 2G is supported on the frame of the feeding mechanism 3 b which the electrode column is fed therethrough and the contact mechanism 2! in turn is supported on the frame of the cutter mechanism 2d.

Any suitable cutter mechanism may be employed and the one illustrated in outline in Figs. 1 and 2 has the construction described and claimed in my application, Serial No. 763,555, filed July 25, 194?, assigned to the assignee of this invention and now U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,475,346, granted July 5, 1949. As there described, the cutter mechanism comprises a disc type grinding wheel which is rotated by motor 22 and enclosed within a box 23 from which the cutting dust maybe extracted by a suitable vacuum system not shown. The cutter mechanism embodies a slot calipering mechanism which moves the motor 22 and the grinding wheel supported on its shaft toward the electrode column to compensate for the wear of the grinding wheel. When the slot depth decreases a predetermined amount, the calipering mechanism operates a switch which energizes a solenoid enclosed in box 2 to operate a ratchet fed mechanism 25. wheel has been substantially consumed, the travel of the motor 22, on whose shaft it is mounted, operates a limit switch which may be employed to arrest operation of the arc welding apparatus in accordance with the control to be described below.

The contact mechanism 2| comprises a plurality of brushes 26 which extends through the slot formed by the cutter mechanism 2d and into engagement with the bared surface of the electrode core at the bottom of the slot. The electrode column is supported against the thrust of the brushes 26 by means of shoes 21. One terminal of the main source of arc welding current is connected tothe brushes 2! and the other terminal thereof is connected to the work being welded. One type of contact mechanism which may be employed is described and claimed in my application Serial No. 794,717, filed December 30, 1947, assigned to the assignee of this invention When the welding 6 and now U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,468,583, granted April 26, 1949.

An operators station or control box 29 is supported on brackets attached to the lower part of the adapter d. This control station comprises a plurality of push buttons, a selector switch, rheostats for controlling arc voltage, travel speed and speed of oscillation, as well as a meter for indicating the voltage of the main welding arc. By reason of the location of this operators station, the control of the welding operation is at the operators fingertips.

The construction of the hollow cylindrical magazine i is shown in Figs. 3, 4, 7, l6 and 17, It comprises a base 39 having inner and outer side walls 3! and 32. The inside surface of the inner side wall is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced electrode guides 33 which extend lengthwise thereof and engage the side surfaces of the foremost unit length electrode 34 located in each of the cells 35 into which the interior portion of the magazine is divided.

Each of the magazine cells 35 is formed by cooperating stationary and adjustable partitions 36 and 3? which extend radially in the magazine as best shown in Figs. 16 and 17. The inner edge of each of the stationary partitions 36 is inserted in a slot formed in the inside surface of the inner wall of the magazine and located on one side of the guides 33 thereof. Its outer edge is engaged by a clip 38 which extends through a perforation in the outside wall 32 of the magazine. The cooperating adjustable partition 37 of each of the cells has a turned over edge portion 39 at its lower edge which rests on the inside surface of the magazine base 39 and it is positioned relative to its cooperating fixed partition 36 by being mounted by upper and lower parallel linkages ii? extending between each adjustable partition and the next adjacent fixed partition of the next cell. A spring 5|, one end of which is hooked into a hole in clip 38 and the other end of which is hooked into a hole in a lug d2 attached to partition 37, biases this partition into engagement with a pair of adjusting screws 43 threaded into the side wall 32 of the magazine and having inner ends engaging brackets 44 also attached to the partition 37 at locations adjacent the linkages 49. As shown in Figs. 16 and 17, the inner edge 45 of the adjustable partition 3'! is flared outwardly so as to direct the smaller size electrodes into the guide 33 at the inner end of the partition.

It will be noted that each of these guides is located opposite discharge openings 45 extending through the magazine base 30. It will also be noted that the upper edges of the cell-forming partitions have overturned and lapping upper edge portions which are inclined downwardly in order to direct the loading of electrodes into the cells.

The electrodes in each of the cells are held in side by side relationship with one another and biased toward the guide 33'at the inner end of the cell by a cell finger 41 (Fig. 3) which is pivotally supported in a yoke 4-8 mounted on a clip 49 which latches over the upper edge of the outer wall of the magazine and is held in place thereon by a fastener 53. As shown in Fig. 5, the pivotal support is formed by the threaded engagement of the finger with the shank portion of an adjusting screw 5| which extends through unthreaded holes in the yoke 48. By turning screw 51, the fingers t? may be adjusted to a central location in the electrode cells, which as previously described, are adjustable to accommodate electrodes of different sizes. Each finger is provided with an operating arm 52 to which a bias is imparted to the finger by means of a spring 53 one end of which is hooked into a hole in arm 52 and the other end of which may be adjustably hooked into a series of holes formed in the side wall 32 of the magazine.

The magazine I is supported on the top plate of the adapter 4 for rotation about its longitudinal axis through the agency of a ring bearing :3 located between this top plate of the adapter and the bottom 39 of the magazine. The magazine is held in position on the adapter by four'hoid-down rollers 55 which engage the edge of the bottom 3!, of the magazine which extends beyond its outer side wall 32. Each of these hold-down rollers 55 is supported on bearlngs mounted in brackets 58 which are attached e to side plates 5E4 extending between the top and bottom plates of the adapter of which they form an integral part by being joined thereto by means of arc welding. Triangular bracing plates 5% welded to the top and bottom plates of the adapter and to the side plates are also provided in order to add rigidity to the adapter structure. The supporting structure for the ejector guides 58 apparent from an inspec-. tion of the sectional View of Fig. -8.

As shown in Fig. 3, the ejector guides 58 extend upwardly through an opening in the top plate of the adapter 3 and through the central opening of the magazine i. The top ends of these ejector guides are connected and spaced by a crown plate 52 which, as show-n in 1 and 2, is provided with an eye bolt 53 by means of which the complete apparatus may be lifted: The bott in plate of the adapter is also provided with an opening through which the ejector may pass in its downward travel along its guides 5-3. As shown in .Figs. 3, '6, and 12, the ejector 57 comprises a backslide 6d, a spacer and upper 7 and lower front slides St and These parts are held together by bolts as illustrated. The

upper front slide is insulated from the ejector by a strip of insulating material 58. The lower slide serves as a mounting for a cam sup-- '"9 on which a parallel track index cam 'iii is supported. The index cam if; of the ejector bl engages a i cam follower H (Figs. 3, 6, and 7) which is ro inner wall 3i of the .magazi-ne These notches V are circumferentially spaced from one another around the magazine wall 3! by a distance such 7 that the movem nt imparted to the magazine t-herethrough is sufficient to move the magazine by the distance between adjacent electrode guides.

retracted position, the magazine is rotated in order to position a different cell of the magazine" in electrode ejecting position wherein its electrode guide positions the unit length electrode in the cell in end alinement with the electrode.

column in the electrode feeding means 3.

The magazine is locked in each of its electrode ejecting positions by a latch 16 which is pivotally supported on a frame 11 attached to the flanged portions of the ejector guides 58 as best shown in Fig. 3. This latch is held in looking position with an aligned latch 15 of the magazine by av remainder of the forward travel of the ejector. f

The ejector is propelled lengthwise of its guides 58 from and to its retracted position by means of 'a gear 8| which engages a rack 82 extending lengthwise'of the ejector. This gear 8], as shown in Fig. 15, is splined to a drivenshaft 83 mounted in bearings 84' which are supportedon the ejector'guides 58 by angle members 85 (Figs. 3 and 4). Driven shaft 83 is provided with a slip clutch 86 having a driving pin 8'! which is engaged by the projecting arms 88 and 89 of a. lost motion coupling 90 which is attached to .a driving shaft 9!. The arm 88 of the lost motion coupling 99 forms part of a ring 92 which is ro-' tatably adjustable about the hub 93 for the arm 89 of the coupling. The hub 93 is attached to the driving shaft 9| by a set screw 94 and the ring 92 is held in adjustable position on the hub 93 by another adjustable set screw 95. When the arm 88 engages the pin'81, the ejector :is moved in a downward direction, and when the arm 89 engages the pin 81, the ejector is moved in an upward direction.

As shown in Fig. 8, the driving shaft 9| is connected through a gear reducer 96 and a belted connection 91' to the drive shaft 98 of the motor 99. The magazine motor 99 and ear reduction 96 are mounted on the bottom plate of the adapter 4.

'As shown in Figs. 11 and 12 the upper front slide 66 of the ejector constitutes a. supportfor the spring biased metallic contact 109 by means" 'of which the foremost unit length electrode is in engagement with contact I00 and move it against the bias of this contact when the tongs are operated by the solenoid. I 23. r V

Ejector contact illll is disc shaped and provided with an offset tapered shank whichengages and is held in place in a correspondingly tapered hole in the contact arm. I03. This arm ismoun-ted on a rod I04,'the ends of'which ex tendthrough guides in the arms -I 6 5 and'l'llfi of brackets 1M and 108 mounted on upper frontslide 6-6. 7 contact arm I03 is biased to a predetermined position relative to these bracket arms by springs 109 and H0. Bracket N31 is also provided with a circular abutment III.,' the front portion which is slotted to form a guide for contact arm I03. This abutment III also constitutes a support for a spring collar IIZ of the tong mechanism I02 and is biased into engagement therewith by a spring H3 one end of which rests in a groove formed in the upper surface of collar H2 and the other end of which rests against a spring retainer H4 which, in turn, abuts the arm I95 of bracket I03. A hollow cylindrical guide H5 forming part of the contact arm assembly serves as a guide for collar I I2.

The tong mechanism Ice is formed by two parallel pairs of crossed levers I I6 which are hinged about pins i ll projecting from collar I 22. The lower ends of these pairs of levers constitute supports for the electrode engaging jaws It i and the upper ends of these levers are connected by links II8 and pins H9 to the head portion I of the armature I2l of the solenoid E23. Spacers I22, located on the connecting pins H9 joining links H8 with the upper ends of tong levers I55, cooperate with pins II! on collar IE2 in providing the parallel spacing of the arms i It of the tong mechanism. solenoid I 23; is provided with an operating coil I23 having its ends connected to terminals I24 and I25 mounted on the ends of a strip of insulating material E25, the central portion of which is supported on the frame of the solenoid I23. Terminal IZ Z- is connected by a flexible conductor I2? with the rod Hi4 on which the contact Hill is supported through the agency of contact arm $3. The other terminal IE5 is connected with a flexible conductor I23 through which arc welding current is supplied to contact Iilll for forming the arc welded union between the unit length electrode engaged thereby and the welded electrode column in the feeding means.

The frame of solenoid I23 is attached to the upper front slide 66 of the ejector by means of bolts I29 having their ends in threaded engage.- ment therewith. Clamping pressure is applied to the solenoid frame through collars I39 acted on by jam nuts I3! threaded on bolts I28. The inner ends of bolts I29 engage the insulating strip 58, and by an adjustment of bolts H29, a controlled braking action between the ejector and its support may be obtained.

The jaws IiiI of the tong mechanism M2 are cy1indrica1 in shape and provided with offset shank portions I32 which extend through corresponding pairs of clamping blocks I53 at the lower ends of levers N5 of the tong mechanism. A portion of the shank of each clamping jaw makes .a threaded engagement with one of the clamping blocks I33 so that the amount by which the jaws I9! project from the tong mechanism I62 may be adjusted. The eccentric arrangement of the jaws IQI on their shanks permits relative spacing of these jaws in order to accommodate electrodes of different sizes. The front ends of the jaws are provided with slots in order to accommodate the bit of a screw driver which may be employed for turning them in order to secure the adjustments referred to. noted, the projection of contact I56 from its mounting arm is also adjustable by reason of its offset supporting shank. A proper adjustment of the jaws I iI and contact we provide for suitably engaging the top end of a unit length electrode in one of the magazine cells without overlapping and engaging the next adjacent elec trode in the cell.

As shown in Fig. 3, the electrodes ejected from the magazine I pass through the central openin As previously in the top plate'of the adapter 4 into an aligner I34 which is supported on the bottom plate of the adapter for limited movement relative thereto. This adapter is located between two of the side plates Ell of the adapter and its movement in an outward direction from the adapter may be limited by a bracket I35 having an adjusting screw I36 which engages the aligner. When performing its intended purpose, the bottom portion of this adapter engages the trailing endof the electrode column being fed by the feeding means and the upper portion engages the leading end of the electrode ejecting from the magazin and aligns it for end to end engagement with the trailing end of the electrode column when these ends come together within the arcing chamber of the aligner.

The construction of this aligner is illustrated in Figs. 20, 21 and 22. As shown in these figures,

the bottom portion of the aligner comprises two relatively movable members I31, each of which supports a pair of grooved electrode engaging guide rollers I38 which are mounted for rotation between the side plates thereof. These members are biased toward one another by a pair of springs I39 located on opposite sides thereof and havin their ends respectively attached to the members spatter by tubular covers I an. The relative movement of members I31 is controlled by guides I one end of each of which is attached to one of the member's I31 and the other end of each of which is turned. over to engage the sides of the other member I31,- A guide slot is also provided at this end of the guide members to engage the projecting end of a spacing stud by which the side plates of this other member are connected. The top portion .of this aligner comprises two relatively moveable members Hi2 which are hinged at I43 on the lower members ISI. Each of these upper members supports a grooved electrode engaging roll I44. These upper members I42 and their electrode engaging rolls I44 are biased to ward one another by a pair of springs I45 located on opposite sides thereof and having their ends attached thereto. Springs I45 are also protected from weld spatter by tubular covers I46. The relative movement of members M2 toward one another is limited by adjusting screws I41, the ends of which are threaded into brackets attached to these members and the midportion of which passes through-oversized openings in limit plates l4l against the outside surface of which the heads of these screws rest. The bottom ends of limit plates I46 are attached to the outer edges of the bottom members I31.

An arcing chamber is formed in the space be tween the lower members I31 and upper members I42 of the aligner by sheets of material I48 which are attached to'these members and have a shape to provide such arcing chamber. As shown in Fig. 20, the leading end of a unit length electrode I49 and the trailing end of the electrode column I59 in the feeding means have been shown in the position they occupy within the arcing chamber. It will be noted that the bottom members I31 through their electrode engaging rolls I38 position the aligner in the adapter in accordance gaging rolls I 44 position the leading end of thenew length of electrode material I49 in proper alignment for the welding operation which is These springs are protected against weld I 'fl e I54 for the operating arm II.

. .11 performed between their ends within the arcin chamber.

:As shown in Figs. 3 and 8, the operating arm I5I of a limitsw-itch mechanism is positioned in the path of travel of electrodes from the magazine, by mounting its enclosing and supporting casing 52 on one of the side plates 69 of the adapter 5. The construction of this limi-tswit-ch mechanism is shown in Figs. .18 and 19. It comprisesa support I 53 which is attached to the easing I52 and on which is mounted aparallel link- This linkage is .biased by a spring .955 to engage the operating 'member of a switch I56 which is bodily adjustable. relative thereto .by means .of an adjusting screw I51. 7

As shown in Figs. 8 and 14, a limit switch I58 is mounted on top angle member 85 and has an operating member I59 which is in the path of 7 travel of a cam I60 which is mounted on the ejector.

This cam I69 is also shown in Fig. 6. Limit switches I56 and I58 form part of the magazine control circuit which will be described below.

As previously stated in connection with the description of Figs. 1 and 2, the adapter frame 4 is mounted on the .arms 5 of the bracket 6 for osof bracket 6. The upper end of this crank shaft damage to the oscillator motor should the adapter 4 engage an obstruction located in its path of travel.

The mechanism within the adapter 4 is for the most part enclosed by cover plates I82. The

" adapter also supports a panel I83 for the electrical connections forming part of the control circuit which will now be described.

The control circuits for the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 have been diagrammatically =11- lustrated in Figs. 23a and 231). For the most part,

cillatory movement thereon. As previously .de-

scribed, this oscillator mechanism comprises a driving 'motorfI5 which is connected to a crank shaft I8 through a gear reduction I! in :orderto impart rota'tionto an adjustable crank I9. Referring now to Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10, in addition to Figs. land 2, it will be noted "that the adjustable crank I9 comprises a face plate having a dovetail slotalong which "a 'T-bar extension of the crank pin IBl is adjustable in order to vary the throw of the crank. 'Ihis crank pin is journaled in one end-of a lever I62, the other end of which is pivotally attached at I53 to an arm I64. This arm I'M and another arm I are clamped to a :torque tube 166 mounted-011a shaftfI-GI, the ends of whichare journaled in the outer ends of the arms 5 of the support bracket '6. The outer end of the other :arm I65 is pivotally connected at I68 to a lever I 69, the other end of which is 'provided with a collar I10 which encircles the ec' to the frame of the feeding means 3. *The outer "end of this shaft for sprocket 1 "I1 is providedwit-h a hand wheel I79. It will thus be noted that the operator, bywrotating the hand wheel I19, :can adjust the position of the eccentric III I relative to the adapter 4 and "that this adjustment will position the adapter relative to the oscillator mechanism. The pivots I 6 3 and I58 are formed, a I

as shown in Fig. 10., :by two mating members whichmay be moved relative to one another by a connecting bolt in order to take up for lost motion resulting from wear. One of the .mating members may be made of a relatively-soft metal such as brass :and the other of a harder Imetal such :assteel or cast iron.

As shown in Fig. 9, thecrank I 9 is keyed to the lower end of the crank shaft 1.8 which is journaled .in a bearing I mounted on .one of the arms .5

the upper portion Of Fig. 23a illustrates the megazine control circuits, the middle portion thereof,

the auxiliary power control circuits, and the bottorn portion .thereof, the welding control circuits. Fig. 232) shows the amplidyne motor generator set, the excitation fields for the amplidyne, and the parallel connections from the output terminals of the amplidyne to'the armaturesof both the magazine motor and the feed roll motor.

'In'th'e lower right hand portion of Fig. 23!), the electrode column I50 has been illustrated between the feed rolls I84 of the feeding means 9. These feed rolls I84 are driven by the armature I 85 of an electrode feed motor having a field I286. In order to tie the disclosure in Fig. 23b with that in the previous figures, the reference numeral 3 has been associated with the dot and dash line indicating the connection between the said rolls i8 3 and armature I85 thereof. The armature I85 of the electrode feed motor is connected-to the output brushes of an amplidyne generator I-8'I which is driven by a motor I88 which is connected with a source of three-phase alternating current by a contactor I89 having an operating J I winding I90. This motor I88 also drives a direct current exciter I9I across which the field I85 of rectifier l9l'. A stabilizing capacitor I98 is connected. across the Thyrite resistor, and the polarity of the rectifier is such as to pass current through the bucking field I when the right hand output brush of the amplidyne is of positive polarit as when energizing the feed motor I85 for electrode feed toward the work.

For manual operation, the armature I85 .of the electrode feed motor is connected to the output brushes of the amplidyne IB'I throughmanuable operable raise and lower push button switches I99 and 209 and the control field I92 of the amplidyne is connected across the output brushes of the exciter I9I through resistors I93, 20I,;and 202. A transfer relay 203 shown in the lower right hand portion of Fig. 23a is employed for changing from.manual to automatic operation of this amplidyne control. This relay has an operating winding 204, contacts 205 and Y208 for switching the comparison circuit in and out,

contacts 201, 208, and 209 for switching the raise and lower manual switches in and out of circuit, and contacts 223 for controlling the grinder. solenoid 2 of the cutter mechanism previously described as being employed for outtinga longitudinal slot in the flux coating of the electrode column in order to bare its core. This grinder solenoid 2II is enclosed within the box 24 shown in Fig. 1.

Resistor I94 of the comparison circuit above referred to and its slider constitute a potentiometer having its input terminals connected across the brushes of exciter I9I through resistor 292. The voltage drop across the righthand portion of the resistor I94 is matched against the voltage drop across the resistor I93. During welding the drop across this righthand portion of this resistor I 94 is less than that across resistor I93.

The terminals of resistor I93 are connected to the output terminals of a rectifier bridge 2 having its input terminals connected across the welding are or the gap between the electrode column I52 and the work being welded 2 I2. This rectifier bridge is employed so that with alternating or direct current of either polarity connected across the electrode column I59 and the work 2I2, the upper terminal of resistor I93 is always at positive polarity.

The welding are between the electrode column I59 and work 2I2 is in the arrangement illustrated supplied with alternating current through the secondary of a welding transformer 2 l3 whose primary is connected through the contacts 2 I4 of a contactor 2I5 to a source of alternating current supply. The contactor 255 is provided with an operating winding 2I6.

A source of direct current supply is connected through switches 2!! and circuit 2I8 to the unit length electrode I49 in the ejector and to the electrode column I53 in the feeding means (see Fig. for joining their abutting ends by arcing welding as above described. The operating winding I23 of the solenoid I23 on the ejector is shown connected in circuit 2I8 as is the operating coil 2I9 of a relay 228 and the contacts 22I of'a relay 222 forming part of the magazine control circuits illustrated in the top portion of Fig. 23a. It will be noted that one terminal of each of the magazine welder supply and the welding arc supply is connected together and 'to the brush mechanism of Fig. 1 which has been illustrated in Fig. 23b as a single contact 2|.

. The armature 223 of the magazine motor 99 is connected through reversing switches 224 (upper righthand portion of Fig. 23a) across the output brushes of the amplidyne I8! and in parallel to the series circuit through the feed motor armature I85 and adjustable resistor 225. These reversing switches are provided with operating windings 226 and 22'! which, when energized respectively, control the direction of rotation of the magazine motor 99 for feeding the ejector to and from its retracted position. The field 228 of the magazine motor is connected across the output terminals of the exciter I9I.

Referring now to Fig. 23a, it will be noted that the several control circuits are connected for energization across supply conductors 229 and 233 which are energized through a pair of switches 23I by which they are connected to the secondary of a transformer .232 whose primary is connected to the power supply.

I An initiating relay 233 has its operating winding 234 connected across supply conductors 229 and 230 through parallel connected contacts I56a and I58a of limit switches I56 and I58. Limit switch IE6 is the previously described electrode switch which is located between the magazine I and the aligner I34 which is located in the adapter 4. Limit switch I58 has been previously referred to as being operated in response to the travel of the ejector. It has a second pair of contacts which are connected in circuit with the operating winding 235 of a relay 236 across conductors'229 and 230. The initiating relay 233 has normally open'contacts 231 and 238, respectively connected in circuit with the operating winding 221 of the reversing switch 224 and the operating winding 239 of the previously mentioned relay 222 having contacts 22! controlling the supply of welding current by which unit length electrodes are welded to the electrode column upon being rejected from the magazine I. Relay 236 is a timer control relay having contacts 243, 24!, 242, and 243. The timer controlled thereby is shown at 24A and is an electronic timer embodying the construction described and claimed in U. S. Letters Patent 2,171,347, Elbert D. Schneider, granted August 29, 1939, and assigned to the assignee of this invention.

The electronic timer. 2% comprises a relay 245 having its operating winding 2% connected across the supply conductors 229 and 239 through the ancde cathode circuit of a controlled are discharge device 237 and contacts 223 of relay 236, contacts 248 of a transfer relay 239, and contacts 253 of the magazine welder current responsive relay 223. The are discharge device 2 3? has a control element Edi and its controlcircuit therefor is completed through a timing capacitor 252, the upper portion of a potentiometer resistor 25-3, and resistors 25 i and 255. The timing capacitor 252 is provided with a discharge resistor 25% which is connected across its terminals. When the anode-cathode circuit of arc discharge device 247 is opened at relay contacts 2:33, 238, or 259, timing capacitor 252 is chargedbycurrent flow from control element 255 to the cathode of arc discharge device 2 2'? through a circuit including the lowe portion of potentiometer resistor 253 and resistor 255 which are connected between supply conductors 229 and 233. This current flow occurs during negative half cycles of the supply; that is, when supply conductor 229 is at positive polarity. The resulting charge on the capacitor 252 is such as to impress a negative hold off voltage on the control element ZEI of arc discharge device 2M. The charging of timing capacitor 252 is arrested when the anodecathode circuit of arc discharge device 22'? is ccmpleted through relay contacts 2 23 and 253 and after a time interval depending upon the value of discharge resistor 253, are discharge device 22% becomes conducting to energize the operating winding 246 of relay 2G5 causing this relay to pick up and open its normally closed contacts 251 and to close its normally open contacts 258. The charge on capacitor 252 is adjusted by adjusting the slider of potentiometer 253. Thedischarge resistor 256 for this capacitor, although shown as a fixed resistor, may be an adjustable resistor in order to provide an additional adjustment of the timing interval. Capacitor 259 connected across operating winding 246 of relay 245 acts to smooth out the pulsating current supplied to this operatingwinding through the arc discharge device 241. a

Transferrelay 249 isprovided with an operatcuisines doctors 22;?! and 123:!) through contacts'24l of relay 235 and contacts 255! of'relay 24.5. Relay 2 219 is provided with sealing-in contacts 26! and transfor contacts 262, and 2 38.. The relay 22$ havits winding 2E9 connected in series with the magazine are welder supply circuit 248, has contacts 264 and v.2235 in addition to contacts'fiil previouslyreferred to.

The magazine welder supply circuit 2'I-8 is opened at the end of the timing interval imposed by timer '25s by operation of a relay 265 having an operating winding 25'! and contacts #268. .Its operating winding ,Ziil is connected across the supply conductors and 236 through contacts 242 of relayifid and contacts 258 of relayi ld. Its control contacts see, in conjunc- :tion with the control contacts of relay 233 and contacts of a magazine weld push button contacts 395 of a relay "2-302, connect the opere ating winding 239 of relay 222 across the supply conductors c229 and sec.

The and down windings 223 and 2-27 of the reversing switch 22 for the magazine motor 99 are connected across the supply conductors 229 and 2.39. The circuit through the down winding 22? is completed from conductor 23d through :a

manually operable switch 230' and the contacts 7 237 of relay the contacts 25 of relay 22E! and the contacts 262 of relay 2% to supply conductor 22%. The circuit through the up winding is completed from supply conductor 23? through switch 238', contacts 265 of relay 226 or contacts 263 of relay 249, and contacts 245 of relay 236 to the other supply conductor 229. 7

Supply conductors 225 and 239 are connected to supply conductors 2H3 and 27! for the auxiliary power control and welding control circuits by contacts 212 and 273 of a master relay 214. The operating winding 2% for this relay is connected across supply conductors 225* and 23g through the contacts Silt of a start push button, the contacts Ell of an overload relay 218 and the contacts 219 of a stop push button. The relay 214 is also provided with sealing-in contacts 28% which are connected across the contacts 276 of the start push button. This start push button also has contacts 285 which complete the armature circuit of the grinder motor 282 of the cutter mechanism 29 of Figs. 1 and 2. These contacts are connected in shunt circuit with the operating winding 285 or relay 27B, and after the start push button has been released the armature current for the grinder motor 232 issupplied through this operating winding 28%. Consequently any overload on the grinder motor will cause relay 218 to operate, opening its contacts 21.! and thereby deenergizin-g supply conductors 2'31] and 21! for the auxiliary power control and welding control circuits. The overload relay 218 is one of several relays having contacts in circuit with the operating winding 2'65 of the master relay 234, but in order to simplify the drawing the connections of only this one protective relay have been illustrated. The operating winding 25 l of the solenoid operated ratchet feed for the grinding wheel of the grinder mechanism 26 of Figs. 1 and 2 is connected across supply conductors 21.0 and 2' through the contacts 2H1 of transfer relay 2% and the contacts 234 of a switch operated by the slot caliper of the grinder mechanism '25.

The operating winding 1920f the contactor 4:89 for the driving motor I88 of the amplidyne set is also connected across supply conductors 21.0 and e '16 171 andis consequently energized to close itscom tacts after the master relay 274 has connected conductors 219 and Eli to conductors 229 andm.

The welding control circuits are :shown .at'ihc bottom of Fig. 230:. Automatic arc welding is im Itiated by closing the contacts 285 of :awehl sta push button; Closure of these content: energizes the operating winding 286 of a time minals of a rectifier bridge 288 having its input :terminals connected across supply conductors 21! and '27! through contacts 289 of a weld stop push button, the contacts 285 of the weld start push button, the contacts 290 of a selector switch also having contacts 291 and 292, a resistor 203 and the contacts 2940f a limit switch which is operated by the travel carriage 1 in its movement to an extreme position on its supporting tracks The travel carriage 1 also operates limit switches 295 and 296. 'Iravel carriage ment to the right is arrestedby operational limit switch 295 and travel carriage movement to the left is arrested by operation of limitswitch 295. Travel carriage movement to the right or to the left depends upon the energization of relays 291 and 298 which so long as energized complete an energizing circuit for the travel carriage motor. Since the travel carriage motor control circuits form part of my invention,

the drawing has not been complicated by-their illustration. Relay 291 has an operating whim 299 which is connected across the supply conductors 210 and 2''" through the contacts of limit" switch 295, contacts 291 of the five-position selector switch, contacts 300 of the weld start push button andcontactsSOl of a travel carriage relay 30-2. Relay 298 has an operating winding .30! which is connected across supply conductors! and 121! through the contacts of limit switchll, contact .292 of the five-position weld selector switch and contacts 300 and 39.! of the weld statt push button and relay 302. V

The five-position weld selector switch is provided toopreset the operating program. The

positions of vthis selector switch with ,regardto the open and closed positions'of its contacts 290;.

In the drawing, the selector switch has been shown with its contacts operated for Welding to the right, that is, with its contacts 290 and 291 closed and its contact 292 open.

When the contacts 285 of the weld start push button are closed, the operating winding .4 T0! the travel control relay 302 is connected across,

the supply conductors 210 and 2". In addition to its contacts 30] previously referred to, this relay .302 is also provided with sealing-in con;- tacts 305 and contacts 306 shunting the contacts 269 of the magazine weld push button.

When the time delay opening relay 2811 closes,

its contacts 391, it connects theoperating winding 398 of relay 3B9 across the supply conductors 210 and .211. This relay 389 controls-the :auto- :matic arc welding operation through its contact The winding ass-or;

The operating winding 204 of transfer relay 2533 previously referred to is connected across the supply conductors 210 and 21I through contacts 3II of relay 309, contacts 305 of relay 302 and contacts 289 of the weld stop push button, and contacts 3I0 of relay 309 connect the operating winding of the welding contactor 2I5 across the supply conductors 219 and 21I.

Operation of the oscillator motor I5 is controlled by a two-position hand switch 3I2 which provides for automatic and hand operation thereof. This switch 3I2 controls the connection of the operating winding 3I3 of the oscillator motor relay 3I4 across supply conductors 210 and 21I.

The contacts 3I5 of this relay connect the oscillator motor to a source of supply as indicated, the field 3I6 of the motor being connected directly across the supply and the armature 3| 1 thereof being connected across the supply through an adjustable rheostat 3I8.

The electrical control of Figs. 23a and 232) will now be further described by explaining its operation in controlling the operation of the automatic arc welding apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 to 22, inclusive, and previously described.

In Figs. 23a and 231) the hand-operated switches have been shown in their open position and the push button switches in the positions to which they are normally biased. The relays and contactors have also been shown in their deenergized positions, and with the exception of I56 and I58 the limit switches have been shown with their contacts in the position they occupy before being mechanically actuated. Limit switch I56, identified in Fig. 23a as the electrode switch, has been illustrated with its contacts I5Ea open by reason of the engagement of its operating member I5I with the trailing end of the electrode column, and contacts I58a and I58b of limit switch I58 have been illustrated in the positions they assume as a result of their operating member engaging the cam I50 on the ejector 51 when this ejector is in its retracted or up position.

The system is conditioned for operation by closing the magazine welder supply switch 2I1, the control circuit switches 23I, the magazine control switch 230 and, if oscillation is desired, by closing the oscillator control switch 3I2 to the left for automatic operation. The five-positacts I580. and i581) of the ejector limit switch are in the positions illustrated in the upper lefthand corner of Fig. 23a. The closed contacts 582) of limit switch I58 complete an energizing circuit for the operating winding 235 of the timer control relay 235 across supply conductors 22S and 2%, causing this relay to pickup and open its normally closed contacts 240, 242 and 243 and to close its normally open contacts 24L The opening of contacts 243 of relay 236 opens the anode-cathode circuit of the arc discharge device 241 of the electronic timer 244, and the timing capacitor 252 is charged. when supply conductor 229 is positive by current flow from this conductor through the lower portion of potentiometer 253, the control element 25I and cathode of arc discharge device 241 and resistor 255 to the other supply conductor 230. The capacitor 252 consequently acquires a charge which impresses a negative hold-off voltage on the control element 25E of the arc discharge device 241 which will render this device non-conducting for a predetermined time interval after its anode-cathode circuit is again completed.

The closure of contacts 2M of relay 236 energizes the winding 2% of transfer relay 249 by connecting it across the supply conductors 229 and 239 through a circuit including the normally closed contacts 251 of relay 245 of the electronic timer. Once relay 249 has been operated, the energizing circuit for its winding 260 is maintained through its sealing-in contacts 26L The pick-up of relay 249 causes it to close its normally open contacts 262, thereby preparing the energizing circuit of the down winding 221 of the reversing switch 224 for operation upon the closure of contacts 231 of initiatin relay 233.

The auxiliary power and welding control circuits are energized by closing the contacts 216 of the start push button shown in the middle portion of Fig. 23a. Closure of these contacts completes the energizing circuit for winding 215 of master relay 214 through a circuit across the supply conductors 229 and 230. This energizing circuit also includes normally closed contacts 211' of overload relay 218 and the contacts 219 of the stop push button. Pick-up of the master relay 214 causes it to close its normally open contacts 222 and 213, thereby connecting supply conductors 210 and 21I for energization from supply conductors 220 and 230. Pick-up of this relay 2% also causes it to close its normally open sealing-in contacts 280 so that upon release of the start push button and the opening of its contacts 216, its energizing circuit is still maintained.

Energization of supply conductors 210 and 21I energizes the operating winding I90 of the line contactor I89 which closes its contacts to connect the motor I88 to its three-phase source of supply. Energization of this motor I88 initiates operation of the amplidyne generator set driven by this motor and including the amplidyne generator E81 and its exciter I9I.

At the time contacts 216 of the start push button were closed by operation thereof, a second pair of its contacts 28I were also closed, connecting the armature 282 of the motor of the .66 the contacts I556! of this limit switch and the congrinder mechanism 20 across the supply conductors 210 and 2H. Upon release of this start push button and the opening of contacts 28I thereof, the grinder motor is thereafter energized through the operating winding 203 of the overload relay 218. With this arrangement the heavy startin current for the grinder motor is shunted around the operating winding 283 of the overload relay 218, thereby preventing operation thereof. Improper operation of the grinder mechanism which would result in overload of its motor will, upon release of the startpush button, cause operation of the overload relay 218 to open its contacts 211 which will open the energizing circuit of the master relay 214 causing it to drop out and deenergize supply conductors 210 and 21I.

The arc welding operation is initiated by closing contacts 285 of the weld start push button shown in the lower portion of Fig. 23a. The closure of these contacts 285 completes the energizing circuit of the time delay opening relay 281 from supply conductor 2?! through contacts 289 and the weld stop push button, contact 29E! of the weld selector switch, the rectifier bridge 2238, resistor 293 and the travel carriage limit switch 294 since the operating winding 2% of relay 231 is connected across the output terminals of the rectifier bridge 288.

The closure of contacts 285 of the weld start push button also completes the energizing circuit for the travel carriage control relay 302. This circuit extends from supply conductor 2H .through the contacts 289 of'the weld stop push button, contacts 285 of the weld start push button, the operating winding 364 of relay 302 to the other supply conductor 21!]. Pick-up of relay 3,9,2; causes it to close its sealing-in contacts 305 so that subsequent release of the weld start push button will not deenergize it or relay 281. Pickvup of relay 382 also closes its normally open contacts 38! which are in circuit with the normally closed contacts sec of the weld start push button contacts 29 i of the selector switch when in the position illustrated, the operating winding 299 of the relay 29'! and limit switch 295. This causes operation of the travel motor control circuit. for propulsion of the travel carriage to the right. This circuit is not completed, however, until the weld start push button has been released permitting its contacts soc to close and energize the travel right relay 297 by connecting the circuit across supply conductors 21c and 2H. Thus, the operator can delay travel of the welding head relative to the work until a molten weld pool has been satisfactorily established.

Pick-up of relay 28'!" closes its contacts 301 connecting the operating winding 30B of the welding relay ace across supply conductors 2'19 and 2711. This relay 399 upon pick-up, closes its normally open contacts 31B and 3| l. The closure of contacts 31!} connects the operating winding 2H5 of the welding contactor 2 l across supply conductors 210 and 2'. Closure of the welding contactor 2|5 connects the welding arc supply to the welding transformer 2 l3 and thereby applies arc welding potential to the electrode column I511 and the work to be welded 2I2. Closure of contacts 3|! of relay 309 operates the transfer relay 263- which prepares the amplidyne control circuit for automatic operation. This transfer relay 203 also. prepares, through its contacts 2H1, the energizing circuit for the grinder solenoid 2-H for operation in response to the actuation of the switch 284 by the slot caliper in the grinder mechanism. As previously stated, whenever the depth of the slot becomes less than a predetermined amount, the grinder switch 2-84 is closed, thereby energizingthe grinder solenoid for operation of the ratchet feed mechanism which moves the grinder motor and its grinding wheel toward the electrode column a predetermined amount in order to re-establish the desired depth of the slot'formed in the flux coating of the electrode column by the grinding wheel of the grinder mechanism.

With the oscillator switch 312 in its lefthand position for automatic operation, closure of contacts Sill-by pickup of relay 39-2 will connect the operating winding 3L3 of the oscillator relay 3 across the supply conductors 2m and 2'. This relay 3| 4, by closing its contacts 3I5, connects the oscillator motor I5 to its source of supply, and operation of this motor will swing the adapter 4 to and fro about shaft it? about which it is pivoted in the arms 5 of its supporting bracket 8. Bracket 6 supports the welding ap- 20 paratuson'the travel carriage I as previously described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2..

. Assuming that the electrode column I50 is out of engagement with the work to be welded 2l2, closure of the welding contactor 2l5 will cause the full open circuitvoltage of the secondary of the welding transformer to appear across resistor I93 of the voltage comparison. circuit which also includes the righthand portion of the potentiometer 54.. The voltage across resistor I93 will be.

This excites the amplidyne so that its righthand output brush becomes positive and supplies current to the electrode feed motor armature I35 through a circuit including contacts 208 of relay- 2.03, adjustable resistor 225, and the normally closed contacts of the lower push button for the amplidyne to the left hand output brush of a This causes the armature 185' the amplidyne. of the feed motor to rotate in a direction which will feed the electrode column I50 toward the work. 7 During this feeding operation, the bucking field [95 of the amplidyne is excited since the rectifier in circuit therewith is poled to pass currentv when the right hand output brush of the amplidyne is positive. This will prevent the amplidyne from supplying excessive voltage to the armature. l85. of the feed motor and, con-' sequently, prevent it from feeding the electrode column 1'50 toward the work H2 at. an'excessive rate of speed V I When the electrode column 150. engages the work 212, the voltage drop. across resistor I93 decreases so far that current flow through the control field 1.9.2 of the amplidyne reverses, thereby reversing the output voltage of the amplidyne and the direction of rotation of the armature 0f the electrode .feed motor. During this reverse. feeding of the electrode column, very little bucking current flows, through the amplidyne, thereby permitting a rapid withdrawal of the electrode column fromv the work to strike the welding are, Aslsoon as the welding arc attains a voltage slightly greater than. the voltage across the. right hand portion of the potentiometer 194 which is determined by the adjustment of its slider, current now through the control field I52 of the amplidyne again. reverses tov cause. the

amplidyne to supply voltage of, .a polarity which will cause the armature I85 of the. electrode feed motor to feed the electrode column, toward the work in accordance with its consumption in the arc.

As the, electrode column. lbfilis consumed in the arc, it movesv relative to the electrode switch I56 and; eventually the trailing. endof this welded electrode column passes. beyond the operating member l5! of the electrode switch I56. When this occurs, switch I56 closes. its contacts l5iia motor reversing. switchf224 across the supply.

This circuit extends conductors 229 and 230; from supply conductor 230' through. switch. 210, winding 22'! of switch 224, contacts 231 of relay 233, contacts 284 of relay 22!], and contacts, 262

of transfer relay 249 which had been closed by 21 the above described prior operation of relay 249 in response to the operation of relay 235.

The energization of the down winding 22? of the reversing switch 224 operates this switch to connect the armature 223 of the magazine motor 99 across the output brushes of the amplidyne It! for rotation in a direction to feed the ejector from its retracted position. Adjustable resistor 225 in circuit with the armature I85 of the electrode feed motor also connected across the output brushes of the amplidyne provides a Vernier adjustment of the relative speeds of the magazine motor and the electrode feed motor so that welding of the unit length electrode to the electrode column may be made to occur in the arc chamber. By reason of the connections, however, the speeds of these motors vary simultaneously and are proportional to one another according to the adjustment provided by resistor 225.

As the ejector 51 is fed from its retracted position, its contact I95 engages the upper end of the foremost unit length electrode in that magazine cell which is in electrode ejecting position. After a, slight feeding movement of this unit length electrode, its leading end will engage the operating member II of the electrode switch I55, causing it to open its contacts I56a. This, however, does not deenergize the winding 234 of relay 233 since movement of the ejector from its retracted position causes limit switch I581]. to close its contacts and limit switch I58?) to open its contacts. This operation of these limit switches results from the movement of the cam I60 with the ejector relative to switches I58 which are mounted on the ejector guide members 58.

The opening of the contacts of limit switch I582) deenergizes the operating winding 235 of relay 235, causing it to drop out and close its contacts 240, 242, and 243. The closure of contacts 240 prepares a circuit for energizing the up winding 225 of the reversing switch 224 for the magazine motor 99. The closure of contacts 242 prepares an energizing circuit for the operating winding 261 of relay 266. The closure of contacts 243 prepares the trip circuit of timer 244 for completion upon closure of contacts 255 of relay 22 0.

The adjustments are such that the ejector feeds the leading end of the unit length electrode I49 from the magazine into engagement with the trailing end of the electrode column I55 when this trailing end is positioned within the arcing chamber of the adapter I34. Upon engagement of these ends, the magazine welder circuit 258 is completed since, as before noted, contacts 22I of relay 222 have already been closed by pickup of relay 233.

The flow of current in this magazine welder circuit 2 I8 also causes relay 22U to pickup closing its contacts'259 and 265 and opening its contacts 254. The opening, of contacts 254 deenergizes the down winding 22'! of the reversing switch 224 of the magazine motor 99, and the closure of its contacts 265 completes the energizing circuit of the up winding 226 of this reversing switch 224. The magazine motor consequently reverses its direction of rotation, but the ejector 5'! does not immediately reverse its travel due to the lost motion connection shown in Figs. 14 and 15.

The flow of current in the magazine welder circuit 2 I8 also energizes solenoid I23 on the ejector, causing it tooperate the tong mechanism I52 to close its jaws I0! on the unit length electrode I49 and move it against the bias imparted to ejector contact I00 by its biasing spring III). This separates the unit length electrode from the welded electrode column to strike an arc, the duration of which is determined by the electronic timer 244. The closure of contacts 259 of relay 229 initiates this timing operation of the electronic timer 244 and after a short interval of time, which is of the order of a quarter to onehalf of a second, relay 245 of this timer is operated to open its contacts 251 and to close its contacts 258.

Closure of contacts 258 of relay 245 completes the energizing circuit for the winding 261 of relay 266 through these contacts and the now closed contacts 242 of relay 235, causing relay 256 to pickup and open its contacts 253. The opening of contacts 268 of relay 266 deenergizes the operating winding 239 of relay 222 which thereupon opens its contacts 22I connected in the magazine welder circuit 2 I8. The consequent interruption of current flow in the magazine welder circuit 2I8 deenergizes the solenoid I23 on the ejector, causing it to release the tongs I92 and free the unit length electrode I49 in the ejector for movement into engagement with the electrode column I50 under the bias imparted thereto by the ejector contact and its spring H0.

The opening of contacts 25! of relay 245 deenergizes the operating winding 259 of relay 249, causing it to close its contacts 253 and 248. Contacts 253 are connected in the energizing circuit 1 of the up winding 226 of reversing switch 224 and in shunt to contacts 265 of relay 220, and contacts 248 are connected in the anode-cathode circuit of arc discharge device 241 and in shunt to contacts 25!) of relay 220. Consequently, when relay 229 is deenergized by the opening of contacts 22I of relay 222,. the energizing circuit through the winding 226 of reversing switch 224 and the energizing circuit of the electronic timer through contacts 250 is not interrupted by the opening of these contacts of relay 229.

When the ejector approaches its retracted position, cam plate I59 on the ejector operates the limit switch I58. The opening of its contacts I58a deenergizes the initiating relay 233 so that it drops out and is conditioned for initiating another travel of the ejector from its retracted position upon operation of limit switch I56. The closing of the contacts I582) of limit switch I58 energizes the operating winding 235 of relay 236, causing it to pick up and open its contacts 240, 242, and 243 and close its contacts 24!.

The opening of contacts 240 of relay 235 deenergizes the up winding 22B of the reversing switch 224 and, thus, stops the magazine feed motor. The opening of contacts 243 of relay 235 opens the anode-cathode circuit of the are discharge device 241 of the electronic timer 244 and thereby establishes conditions for charging the timing capactitor 252 thereof to acquire its holdoff voltage for the next timing operation. The opening of contacts 243 also deenergizes relay 245 of the electric timer which drops out and closes its contacts 25'! and opens its contacts 258. The opening of contacts 242 of relay 23B and the opening of contacts 258 of relay 245 deenergize the closing of contacts 251 of relay 245 re-energize the operating winding 260 of relay 24 9,

23 causing it to pick up and close its contacts 261 and 262 and to open itsc'o'ntacts 24a and 262. The closing of contacts 262 of relay 249 prepares the energizing circuit of winding 22'! or the reversing switch 224 for the magazine motor 99' for re-energization' upon losure of contacts 231 of the initiating relay 233. The closure of contacts 25! of relay 249 will maintain the energizetion of relay 249 when the ejector is again operated and moved from its retracted position resulting in the deenergization of the operating winding 235 of relay 236. The opening of contacts 248 of relay 2 49 and the closing 01 contacts 243 of relay 235 upon the next operation of the ejector again conditions theanode-cathode circuit of the are discharge device 241 of the electronic timer for completion and initiation of the timing operation upon the closure of contacts 250 of rela 220.

The control is thus conditioned for another operation which will operate the ejector for feeding a new unit length electrode fron'i the magazine upon closure of the electrode switch I56.

The various manually operated switches shown in the control system are provided for testing,

adjusting, and correcting the operation of the system. Thus, it is possible to operate' the magazine motor by closing the contacts 269 of the push button labelled Mag. Weld without initiating the arc welding operation by closing the .Start and Weld Start push buttons. By opening switch 218, relay operation can be tested without operating the magazine motor 99. Likewise, the electrode column l?! may be adjusted in it's feeding means by operating the Raise and Lower push buttons which connect the amplidyne 81 to the armature I 85 to the electrode feed motor. It will be noted that when the welding arc supply circuit is disconnected and the voltage across the welded electrode column I50 and the work 2 I2 is'zero, current flow through the control field of the amplidyne is in a direction to produce that amplidyne polarity which results in feeding the electrode column up during automatic operation. This changed condition existing during manual operation has been allowed for by the mannerin which the Raise and Lower push buttons connect the armature 185 of the electrode feed. motor in circuit therewith.

If, during automatic arc welding operation, the travel carriage l arrives at the desired limit of its travel, operation of limit switches 295 or 296 will stop the movement of the travel carriage and operation of limit switch 294 will stop the automatic arc welding operation. Operation of the Weld Stop button will also stop the automa-ticarc welding operation. In either case, the

' delayed opening of relay 281 maintains the" flow of arc welding current for a predetermined time after the movement of the travel carriage has been arrested, thus providing for a crater filling operation at the end of'th'e weld.

As previously noted, the auxiliary power control and welding control circuits are deenergiz'ed whenever the grinder motor for the" cutter mech- "anism- 20 becomes overloaded. Additional proamplidyne set and overload on the travel carriage motor; Operating winding" 215' of relay 214 may also dee'nergi'zect by operation" of one or more limit switches in its circuit. For example, a limit switch operated when the grinding wheel is worn out maybe used. limitsw'itch would be actuated whenever the movement of the grinding wheel toward the electrode column was of a magnitude to indicate this condition or the grinding wheel.

Other safety features may be embodied in V the control illustrated. One such feature would prevent operation of the electrode feed inotdr by actuation of ush button [99 il'n'tll after the up winding 226 of reversing switch 224' for magazine motor 9 9 hasbeen deenergized; This will prevent reversal of the magazine" motor which would otherwise occur andcause the ejector and electrode column to befed toward one another and the possibility of their destructive collision. For this purpose up winding 226' of switch 224 may actuate normally closed contacts'eonne'cted between contacts 209 of relay 203 and the right hand contacts or raise push button [$9.

Another saiety feature could provide for deenergization of the Welding circuit if due eccentricity of the flux coating on the length electrodes, the grinding wheel of the. grinding mechanism 20 did not basethe core of the electrode. In order to accomplish this result, a relay having its winding connected between the work and an insulated brush of the contact mach anism may operate normally opencdiitacts connected in circuit with contacts 305 of relay 3'12 across the weld start push button contacts 285. These contacts may" be shunted b'y normallyclosed contacts of another relay having its Winding in shunt to the winding an or relay snato provide for scaling iii of relay 302 Whe'friflie welding contactor 2I5 has not been piclied up by operation of relay 309'.

Under certain conditions of operation the Furthermore, relay :22 maybe operated by 8.

limit switch actuated by cam I60 the ejector when the leading end of an ejected unit length electrode first enters the amine chambei' fo'r'med by sheets l'48 of the aligner' 134 in which case contacts 238 of relay 133" could be olii" as could contacts 301s of relay an: and some 269" of the magazine weld push button.

A positive stop may also be provided for ing the down travel or the ejector so that its superstructure will not come into arcing engagement with the magazine. The slip' clutch 8F .01 the magazine drive will accommodate the use of such a positive limit stop. Furthermore; the

lost motion coupling o'f'the magazine driveniay be adjusted for no 1051; motion and the magazine motor reversed by' operation of relay 249 when;

operation of timer 2 deenerglze's thi'sfrelay.

Contact later the ejector ma temade or;

carbon instead of a; metal su'ch as copper' in order to prevent welding of the-contact to the upper end of a unit length electrode which may occur when using high current values for welding the unit length electrode to-tlieeiectrode'con umn.

It is quite obvious that. in view of'the embodiment of my invention above" described, various modifications other than those suggested will occur to those skilled iii the art and that such- 

